Zimbabwe Witnessing Increased Violence Ahead of Presidential Election

Political violence has flared in Zimbabwe as the southern African nation gears up for elections next year that may see a united opposition seek to end President Robert Mugabe’s near four-decade rule.

The United States government on Wednesday imposed sanctions on two senior members of South Sudan’s government and close associates of the President, Salva Kiir, alleging they personally profited from a climate of corruption thus undermining peace, security and stability in the crisis-stricken nation. The Treasury Department imposed sanctions on Gen. Malek Reuben Riak Rengu, the army’s deputy chief of staff in charge of military procurement; and Michael Makuei Lueth, South Sudan’s information minister.

South Africa's gross domestic product has rebounded with 2.5% growth for the second quarter of the year. This is an improvement from the contraction reported for two consecutive quarters. GDP declined 0.3% in the fourth quarter of 2016 and 0.7% in the first quarter of 2017. Second-quarter data shows year-on-year GDP growth was 1.1%, and for the six months growth has been 1.1%. The nominal GDP is estimated at R1.145bn.

Mobile internet services were off in Togo on Thursday, where new opposition protests were planned after huge anti-government demonstrations across the country. On social media such as Facebook and Twitter, which were still accessible using intermittent Wi-Fi access in the capital, Lome, users called for services to be restored.

Togo Opposition Calls For President To Quit As Protests Mount

Togo’s opposition chief on Wednesday called for the immediate resignation of President Faure Gnassingbe, the current head of a half century-old political dynasty, rejecting a government moves to introduce term limits as protests gained momentum.

Ugandan Parliament Suspended Over Murders Of Several Women

Uganda's parliament says it will stop meeting until the government presents a report into a string of murders that some fear is the work of a serial killer. A parliamentary session on Tuesday decided to suspend further meetings indefinitely after senior government officials failed to present an explanation for the killings of women around the capital, Kampala.